Quarterfinal Recaps — National Bank Open 2025, Toronto
🎾 Zverev Tops Popyrin in Epic Comeback
Top seed Alexander Zverev overcame a narrow first‑set loss to defeat reigning champion Alexei Popyrin 6‑7(8), 6‑4, 6‑3 in a 2‑hour 42‑minute quarterfinal marathon
Popyrin had seized the first set in a tight tiebreak, keeping alive his 9‑0 main‑draw run on Canadian courts . But Zverev hit back, storming to 3‑0 leads in both the second and third sets, and never looked back .
With 12 aces, an 82% first‐serve points won rate, and powerful consistency under pressure, Zverev matched Novak Djokovic as only the second active men’s player to reach 75 ATP Tour semifinals . He now advances to face Karen Khachanov.
🔥 Khachanov Battles Past Michelsen in Crunch Time
Eleventh seed Karen Khachanov edged ahead of American up‑and‑comer Alex Michelsen 6‑4, 7‑6(3) to reach his third National Bank Open semifinal .
Michelsen, riding hot form off wins over Lorenzo Musetti and Learner Tien, pushed Khachanov in a tight second set, even earning set points at 5‑4. The Russian, however, held strong—saving break points late and sealing the win with a dominant finish in the tiebreak .
Khachanov praised the mental battle:
“Very close, very competitive match … to come out mentally from this situation is very important”
He now squares off against Zverev—his head‑to‑head rival with stakes high for a spot in the final.
🧩 What It Means
- Zverev’s comeback delivers a classic: a former champion showing resilience, discipline, and court command under pressure.
- Khachanov’s clutch performance cements his status as a dangerous contender in Toronto, capable of tight‑rope moments and clutch breaking.
- The semifinal clash Zverev vs Khachanov promises to be a battle of power, mental grit, and big serving on Toronto’s hard courts.
🏆 Summary Table
| Match-Up | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zverev vs Popyrin | 6‑7(8), 6‑4, 6‑3 | Zverev rebounds from opener; 75th ATP SF |
| Khachanov vs Michelsen | 6‑4, 7‑6(3) | Khachanov fends off rising no.26 seed |
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